Percussion-Making Activities for Kids

When musicians need to keep a rhythm going, nothing works better than a good percussion instrument. A percussion instrument is any musical instrument that is played by striking, shaking, rubbing, or scraping. Types of percussion instruments include drums, cymbals, rattles, and chimes.

Kids, interested in making your own percussion instrument? Try one of these percussion-making activities that use everyday objects!

Make a Spinning Drum
Called Den-Den Daiko in Japanese, these traditional children's toys were made popular by "The Karate Kid Part II" film.

Make a Rainstick
Although the rainstick were created in South America, groups from many different cultural backgrounds, including taiko groups, use rainsticks as a percussion instrument.We present a recycle-friendly version here.